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Recent Graduate - Research Health Science Specialist

Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the United States Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG). DSG works to ensure safe and healthful working conditions through the development of workplace standards (i.e., regulations) and guidance products which address significant workplace hazards.

  • This position is inside the bargaining unit.
  • Additional selection(s) may be made from this vacancy.   

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 05/04/2021
Closed date: 05/18/2021
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$72,750 - $113,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Promotion potential
12 - There is no obligation for future promotions - they are dependent on ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee at a higher level & supervisory approval.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Minimal travel required for this position.
Appointment type
Recent Graduates
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Announcement number
PW-21-BOS-OSHA-173
Control number
600341300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Eligible Recent Graduates from qualifying educational institutions. Refer to "Qualifications, Education, Requirements and Evaluations" sections for more information.

Duties

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Major duties for this position are at the full performance level and include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Prepares and writes notices for publication in the Federal Register. Uses electronic methodologies to organize and analyze, and respond to public comments submitted to the Federal Register. Writes and edits content for the proposed draft or final preamble to the standard and/or the text in the main other portions of the text standard. Evaluates comments from scientists, government agencies, and other stakeholders during the rulemaking process and works with the team to determine whether revisions to the regulatory ion text are required and if so, works with the team to make modifications.
  • Writes and comments on additional guidance documents developed within or outside of OSHA that addresses workplace hazards to inform employers and workers. Develops and writes a variety of OSHA publications including Fact Sheets, Info Sheets, Hazard Alerts, and Quick Cards. These publications may describe new and modified theories and principles, explain phenomena, and/or provide information to improve the understanding of techniques and processes.
  • With direction from the supervisor, performs research investigation related to information and data to develop content for publications and to extend knowledge and understanding of a understanding of a variety of occupational safety and health topics.
  • Researches, proposes, and/or participates in the formulation of innovative initiatives and programs to assist with compliance with OSHA standards and regulations, to promote understanding and acceptance of OSHA's mission and overall goals and objectives, and foster a collaboration between OSHA and the workforce at large to create safe and healthy work environments in all industries throughout the United States.
  • Represents OSHA and DSG to outside stakeholders and interested groups, organizations, and individuals. Prepares and delivers seminars and speeches/presentations. Develops written guidance documents to assist employers and employees in understanding the provisions of new or current standards or hazards.
  • Assists in implementing logistics for public meetings. Participates in formulating questions to obtain information. Assists in preparing meeting materials. Makes presentations and answers questions at stakeholder meetings, public hearings, and other public venues. Analyzes public comments. Assists in the development of questions for stakeholders at public meetings that inform ongoing decisions.
  • In cooperation with other OSHA directorate and the Office of the Solicitor (SOL), participates in the DSG team effort to develop proposed and final regulatory text and supporting analyses for safety and health standards, and develops guidance products on workplace health hazards.
  • The ability to support working relationships with internal and external clients, customers, regulated entities, subject matter experts, government officials, managers and supervisors, and other stakeholders. Ability to participate in on‐going discussions and dialogue, offer suggestions, comment, take and understand ad‐hoc tasks as a result of on‐going conversations and collaborative work efforts.
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship and must be at least 16 years old.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Position requires Public Trust-Low Risk Background Investigation.
  • Must sign a DOL Pathways Recent Graduate Program Participant Agreement

This is an appointment under the DOL Recent Graduates program.  The program duration is one year.  Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service.  

  • Appointee must sign a DOL Pathways Recent Graduate Program Participant Agreement.
  • The entire duration of the Recent Graduate Appointment constitutes a trial period.
  • Appointee must be a U.S. citizen in order to be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service upon completion of the program.

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements.  Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet the following.

Specialized Experience 

To qualify at the GS-11 level: Applicants must possess 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as: experience in research designs, methodologies, analytical techniques, and reporting (with respect to statistical results). The applicant is also expected to have advanced understanding and ability to apply the concepts, principles and practices in the fields of epidemiology, toxicology, biochemistry, biostatistics, public health, or risk assessment; recognition of potential health hazards and conducting studies and analyses to assess problems, define issues and draw conclusions regarding occupational health hazards with a variety of operations and processes. The applicant should have experience interpreting results from studies and developing statistical and narrative reports, and/or recommendations.

OR

Have a Masters degree or equivalent graduate degree related directly to the work of the position.

OR

Have a combination of education and experience.

To qualify at the GS-12 level: Applicants must possess 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as: experience in research designs, methodologies, analytical techniques, and reporting (with respect to statistical results); experience with and knowledge of the principles of quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, and data analysis. The applicant is also expected to have advanced understanding and ability to apply the concepts, principles and practices in the fields of epidemiology, toxicology, biochemistry, biostatistics, public health, or risk assessment; recognition of potential health hazards and conducting studies and analyses to assess problems, define issues and draw conclusions regarding occupational health hazards with a variety of operations and processes. The applicant should have experience interpreting results from studies and developing statistical and narrative reports, and/or recommendations.

OR

Have a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree related directly to the work of the position.

OR

Have a combination of education and experience.

In order to qualify you must meet both basic requirements and the specialized experience statement. 

Please Note: All qualified applicants will be required to submit a writing sample. Please submit a writing sample that would demonstrate your analytical writing skills.  It should be no longer than 3-4 pages written by you personally.  For example, position paper, decision memo, white paper, options paper, etc.

Education

To be eligible for appointment, you must meet requirement a or b:

a. Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years; or

b. Was released or discharged from active duty within the previous two years, where the applicant is a veteran who, due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying for a recent graduate position during any portion of the two-year eligibility period following completion of his/her degree or certificate requirements, provided that not more than six years have transpired since the applicant completed the requirements for a degree or certificate

You must submit an academic transcript from your academic institution showing the date that you most recently completed the academic requirements described above. See the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

To use your education as a basis for meeting the minimum qualification requirements (MQR) for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the MQR, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken to receive credit for that course work. See the "Qualifications and Evaluations" section of this announcement for more details.

If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation demonstrating that you meet the eligibility and MQR for this position, your application will be deemed incomplete & yAny applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position.   Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information or you will be ineligible for further consideration.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION,  ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants meeting the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements will be evaluated against the competencies described below and will be placed into one of the following quality categories, based on responses to the vacancy questionnaire:

Category A (Best Qualified) - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying the critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.

Category B (Well Qualified) - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies by this position.

Category C (Qualified)- Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualifications requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Research: Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.

Technical Competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

Planning and Evaluating: Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long- term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes. 

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview).   Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions.  If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.  Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)

Referrals will be made in accordance with applicable reemployment priority and/or veterans’ preference requirements.  Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.


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Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Agency contact information

Harpreet Singh
Phone
202-693-2469
TDD
877-889-5627
Fax
202-693-1697
Email
singh.harpreet@dol.gov
Address
Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Admin
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Washington, District of Columbia 20210
United States

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